Hi Fade,if you resize the image it may allow you, if not PM me I'll send you my mail and I can post it online and send you the links if you don't have an account to do it with.

This offering maybe right, or wrong, but it is one, the other, both, or neither!Blog,-Some Suttas Translated,Ajahn Chah."Others will misconstrue reality due to their personal perspectives, doggedly holding onto and not easily discarding them; We shall not misconstrue reality due to our own personal perspectives, nor doggedly holding onto them, but will discard them easily. This effacement shall be done."

I don't go to quite the same level of specificity on my materials as the above link suggests, so I guess I could say that you ought to let your inner creativity guide you, and be patient. As with all good and fruitful things, it takes some practice.

Hi Fade, all I do when I forget is quote a post that has images then past the URL where the original URL is and delete the rest of the post and post mine.

This offering maybe right, or wrong, but it is one, the other, both, or neither!Blog,-Some Suttas Translated,Ajahn Chah."Others will misconstrue reality due to their personal perspectives, doggedly holding onto and not easily discarding them; We shall not misconstrue reality due to our own personal perspectives, nor doggedly holding onto them, but will discard them easily. This effacement shall be done."

I like your altar it is very beautiful. I especially like your Buddha statue... If you don´t mind me asking...where did you buy your crystals...online or at a local store? I am looking to buy some crystals myself but am leary of buying them online and then they end up not being genuine. Thanks.

My home shrine has, for six or seven months, resided in a small bookcase in our living room (next to my desk). Anyone looking back can see it on page 4 of this thread. Anyway, I've always felt that it's location was somewhat inadequate, but I've been very cautious to not "shock" my wife with anything she might consider "crazy." I guess you could say I've been breaking her into the idea of my being Buddhist slowly and deliberately so as to not cause too much friction in the home.

Keeping the story to a minimum (to keep the thread on topic), she has been fairly supportive of me, or at least not restrictive / prohibitive. She sees my spirituality as important, and maybe even valid (she hasn't said that specifically, but through her actions thus far it can be inferred). As such, I've decided to claim some space in our classroom for my quiet space and established my shrine there.

This entailed a new table and a lot of cleaning, but offers me a place to read, and possibly meditate if I so choose, something into which I'm only barely starting to venture. I figured I could share this change with friends here, maybe as a testament to the fact that multi-faith families can be made to work if both parties are fair and willing to work together.

I carried over most of the items from the original shrine area but may make further changes eventually... I don't have a cushion, for instance, so I'm borrowing one from our couch when I need one. Fact is, ultimately, that I'm limited to a budget of about $15 per week and have usually been inclined to buy books before anything else. As I'm in the middle of the 1,400 page Majjhima Nikaya, I don't imagine needing any new books for a few... months at least.

Bhavana wrote:a little girly, I know, but I like it that way. I use what i have. (no, I am not a believer in the mystical powers of crystals. I just think they are pretty)

What's with the Catholic rosaries in the background, if I may ask...

Bhikkhus, if you develop and make much this one thing, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction. What is it? It is recollecting the Enlightened One. If this single thing is recollected and made much, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction.Anguttara-Nikaya: Ekanipata: Ekadhammapali: PañhamavaggaVSMVMMWBBTBHTWTBTMy Page

Love all the pictures of shrines, they give me so much inspiration because I have been meaning to make one for myself soon, although I don't have a lot of room being a student and all.Where do you guys get your Buddha statues (I live in UK)? I have looked on ebay and there are some really nice ones, but I also want to make sure there are no rules such as being a certain shape, or having to be blessed.

Thanks,

Coyote

"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared." Iti 26

Bhavana wrote:a little girly, I know, but I like it that way. I use what i have. (no, I am not a believer in the mystical powers of crystals. I just think they are pretty)

What's with the Catholic rosaries in the background, if I may ask...

its known as a mala, they are used to count recitations, I have one made of bone!

This offering maybe right, or wrong, but it is one, the other, both, or neither!Blog,-Some Suttas Translated,Ajahn Chah."Others will misconstrue reality due to their personal perspectives, doggedly holding onto and not easily discarding them; We shall not misconstrue reality due to our own personal perspectives, nor doggedly holding onto them, but will discard them easily. This effacement shall be done."

Bhavana wrote:a little girly, I know, but I like it that way. I use what i have. (no, I am not a believer in the mystical powers of crystals. I just think they are pretty)

What's with the Catholic rosaries in the background, if I may ask...

its known as a mala, they are used to count recitations, I have one made of bone!

Except if you look closely at the picture in question you can see Jesus hanging from the cross.

The heart of the path is SO simple. No need for long explanations. Give up clinging to love and hate, just rest with things as they are. That is all I do in my own practice. Do not try to become anything. Do not make yourself into anything. Do not be a meditator. Do not become enlightened. When you sit, let it be. When you walk, let it be. Grasp at nothing. Resist nothing. Of course, there are dozens of meditation techniques to develop samadhi and many kinds of vipassana. But it all comes back to this - just let it all be. Step over here where it is cool, out of the battle. - Ajahn Chah

Cittasanto wrote:its known as a mala, they are used to count recitations, I have one made of bone!

Except if you look closely at the picture in question you can see Jesus hanging from the cross.

HAHA @ ME

This offering maybe right, or wrong, but it is one, the other, both, or neither!Blog,-Some Suttas Translated,Ajahn Chah."Others will misconstrue reality due to their personal perspectives, doggedly holding onto and not easily discarding them; We shall not misconstrue reality due to our own personal perspectives, nor doggedly holding onto them, but will discard them easily. This effacement shall be done."

Coyote wrote:Where do you guys get your Buddha statues (I live in UK)?

I got my Rupa at a flea market one weekend a couple years ago. I live in an area that is 99.9% Christian so I was very surprised to see this Rupa there, and for such a good price. You never know when or where you may find a Rupa for yourself. I have seen some nice Rupas on Ebay, so you never know!

VictoryInTruth wrote:I like your altar it is very beautiful. I especially like your Buddha statue... If you don´t mind me asking...where did you buy your crystals...online or at a local store? I am looking to buy some crystals myself but am leary of buying them online and then they end up not being genuine. Thanks.

Hello -

so sorry that I missed your question, i have not been here for a while.

I get crystals in different places - but one that is really good and has a huge selection is in Cherry Hill, in south Jersey. It's on Route 70, about 1 mile from interstate 295 exit - 36, I think? It's actually a jewelry store, gem and rock shop - more of a collectors type of store, not a spiritual store...so prices tend to be a little lower. The selection is amazing. It's called Gary's Gem Garden. You can look them up online, they have a site. Let me know if you need better directions, it's worth the trip.